I was rereading your questions. As for student absences... Generally, a
student who missed had time to make up the work in class - because of the
length. The student could at least catch up within a day or so and not fall
behind. There again, that is generally. If a student missed more than a few
days, the student had a great deal of work to make up. Because I usually had
a majority of students like that, I planned extra-credit projects. I never
told them it was extra-credit. Basically half the class was working on an
extra project (a real quickie) while the other half was catching up.
I also had an "art enrichment" book. The book contained dittos with
crossword puzzles, mini-projects that are really simple, word searches -
just a lot of odds and ends. I also had some art games (I have one that is
like memory but with art work) and a deck of cards (the cards have pieces of
art work, too). Students could do these activities if they finished early.
It took awhile to compile the book, but well worth the effort. :)